Tips For Natural Loc Grooming

By Lena Stephenson


The natural hair trend has been growing in popularity in recent years. Dreadlocks, one of the oldest hairstyles known to man, are one of the most popular choices for a natural hairstyle. Loc grooming is actually quite simple and very necessary to keeping the hair clean and healthy.

You should wash your locs at least once a week, the same as you would with any other hair style. You may find that once a week is not enough, particularly if your scalp itches. The temperature of the water should be between warm and cool and you should shampoo at the scalp alone, allowing the soapy suds to run down the length of the locs. This is all that is necessary to wash them. Try to use a natural shampoo for the best results or look into getting a shampoo bar, which is very popular for this type of hair. Shampooing your locs will help to keep them tight, as well as encourage the hair to grow. If you have just twisted your hair into a dreadlock style, wait at least one to two weeks before you go ahead and wash.

Rinsing after shampooing is a very important step. It will help to get rid of any residue that may have been left behind from shampooing. This residue can actually damage the hair and make it look dull. Residue can also cause your scalp to itch. Mix together apple cider vinegar with some water and run it through your hair to eliminate all residue.

Conditioning your locs is easily done with natural products, of course. Shea butter, jojoba oil, rosemary oil and olive oil are all options you can use to condition. You should condition your hair right after shampooing and then again after about three days.

Drying the hair is just as important as rinsing. Locs that are not properly dried can actually accumulate mildew and begin to smell after a while. They will also get weaker as a result. Using normal towels is not recommended for this type of hair. A microfiber towel is always best. To speed up the process, a dryer can help if air drying takes too long.

The scalp's health is the most important part of having beautiful locs. Massage the scalp at least three times a week to stimulate the flow of blood and also promote hair growth. Use a light oil when massaging that will also hydrate. Spray locs occasionally with some salt water, which is good for tightening and also maintaining cleanliness until it is time to shampoo them again.

New growth requires special attention and maintenance. Keep new growth neat by twisting hairs that are loose into locs that already exist. This will help the loose hairs to integrate well into the hairstyle. New growth can also be treated by palm rolling or by using a latch hook to tighten the roots. Use a headscarf at bedtime to protect the hair and keep the style neat.

Hairdressers skilled in the grooming and maintenance of dreadlocks are called locticians. There are many of them located in Brooklyn, NY. Shaquora R'Bey has catered to stars with locs like Stevie Wonder. She can be easily contacted for an appointment.




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